Penn Eliminates Dental School, Sports

PHILADELPHIA, Penn.--The University of Pennsylvania announced close to $3 million in budget cuts two weeks ago, including the gradual phasing out of the Dental School and the elimination of the baseball and soccer teams.

The University will also eliminate the art history and folklore departments and raise tuition 15.5 per cent, Louis Girifalco, acting provost, said, adding the measures are "painfully necessary" to close the university's $9.5 million budget gap.

Allison Accurso, chairman of the undergraduate assembly, said the measures were "despicable and totally insensitive" and urged students to march in protest of the cuts.

No Consultation

Steve Marmon, chairman of the graduate and professional student assembly said "there was no consultation, no sympathy for the student interest," adding that the cuts are "beyond even my wildest fears."

The Dental School will be phased out over a six year period, while the baseball and soccer teams and the art history and folklore departments will be cut this spring.

"What we have found is that the future of this university rests with the sciences, with Wharton, with engineering," President Sheldon Hackney said, adding, "Regardless of whether or not we like it, the liberal arts at Penn are not going to pay the rent."

Patricia Cormier, long-range planning director of the dental school, said "they didn't have the courtesy to discuss it with me," adding that the dental school is one of the best in the country.

Bob Seddon, baseball and soccer coach, said he was "utterly flabbergasted" that both his teams were being cut.

Cecil Striker, chairman of the history of art department, said, "We are one of the few department here that isn't pre-anything," adding, "You notice they aren't cutting any biology courses."

Hackney said that he has appointed a special committee to make recommendations concerning the best way to make further budget cuts and examine the relative worth of each of the departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.